Tuscaloosa Christian's New Coach Has Easy Transition

Tuscaloosa Christian's New Coach Has Easy Transition

Article excerpt

It's been a quick turnaround for first-year coach David
Arsenault, who was named the head coach at Tuscaloosa Christian a
week before fall practice started. But, fortunately for Arsenault,
he's inherited a team he's familiar with, having been an assistant
on the Warriors staff for the past three years.

"The arduous part of the transition hasn't been so much on the
field but the behind the scenes organizational stuff," Arsenault
said.

"Fortunately, Hunter Christian helped make the transition smooth
by already having things in place."

The quicker the transition the better because Tuscaloosa
Christian was the first West Alabama team to officially begin the
2013 season, opening play on Aug. 16 at King's Way Christian School
in Douglasville, Ga.

Tuscaloosa Christian finished the 2012 season 6-4, advancing to
the second round of the eight-man Christian Football Association
playoffs. It returns only three starters, linebacker and fullback
Gabe Foster, a 6-foot, 200 pound senior, 5-8, 200 pound junior
linebacker and running back Boyd Banks, and 5-11, 177 pound senior
receiver Calloway Newman.

One of its key losses to graduation was quarterback Jordan
Potter. Arsenault says the Warriors have a couple of players and a
new offensive plan of attack to counter that loss.

"There will be a couple of guys. It's not as much of a
quarterbackcentric offense as it was last year," Arsenault said of
the offense designed for a slow-paced control designed to keep the
defense off the field. "It's a multiheaded offense. It has multi
threats. Personnel wise, it doesn't put all the burden on one guy's
shoulders."

Sophomore Hunter Sample is tabbed to quarterback that offense.
"He's very athletic, skill wise. He has natural instincts."

Foster, Banks and Newman will also be key. "Gabe is such an
athlete. As far as athletic talent and ability, he's the best on the
team. …